Dolan, Catholic Dioceses Sue Obama Over Mandate

Dozens of Roman Catholic dioceses, schools and other institutions — including the Archdioceses of New York — sued the Obama administration Monday over a government mandate requiring most employers to provide birth control coverage as part of their employee health plans.

The lawsuits filed in federal courts around the country represent the largest push against the mandate since President Barack Obama announced the policy in January.

"We have tried negotiation with the administration and legislation with the Congress, and we'll keep at it, but there's still no fix," said New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "Time is running out, and our valuable ministries and fundamental rights hang in the balance, so we have to resort to the courts now."

Among those suing are the University of Notre Dame, the Archdioceses of Washington, New York and Michigan and the Catholic University of America.

As WNYC reported earlier this year:

The Archdiocese of New York, on the other hand, does not offer contraception to the 6,000 employees who work for its main office, school system and charitable wing. It’s allowed to do this not simply because it is a church – it’s actually much more than that – but because it’s “self-insured.”

Organizations that are self-insured directly pay for employees’ health benefits without outside insurance, so they are not subject to state regulations.

Dolan has not said where he would would draw the boundaries of exemption.

With the Associated Press